Less than 10% of individuals that would benefit from weight-loss injections like Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it publishes its inaugural advice on the drugs.
Considering more than one billion people worldwide now classified as obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to these injectable treatments.
Per forecasts, over two billion could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The latest guidelines recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," stated WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to broad availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, explains the agency.
Skinny Jab Supply Crisis
Despite the current most optimistic case, the supply of such drugs would only suffice for about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.
The guideline encourages countries and companies to increase access, by measures including voluntary licensing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the primary ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
These medications mimick a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of stopping the drug, as their typical appetite resume.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and some cancers.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was responsible for 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
